Business Plan

Introduction

This Plan offers an overview of the Town Council and its financial information, as well as providing an appendix clarifying the responsibilities of the Town Council and Cornwall Council – which can be confusing at times to understand.

It also details the Town Council’s mission, aims and objectives over the next 3 years, providing our Parish with the commitment to be an effective and transparent Council and that our community enjoys and benefits from our open spaces, play areas and Community events. This Plan will give our community a clear understanding of what the Town Council does and what it is trying to achieve. It will also assist the Council in taking a planned approach to the prioritisation and allocation of resources.

As one of 12 Councillors who collectively are the Council, we want to do the best we can for all who live, work and visit both Padstow and Trevone.

Councillor Mrs Dawe – Padstow Town Council Mayor/Chair

Overview of Padstow Town Council

Padstow Town Council has always tried to serve its communities of Padstow and Trevone the best it can within its permitted remit. It is the first tier of local government closest to the community, with an important role to play by representing its interests.

The public sector has faced many challenges and financial restrictions over the last few years, alongside continuing compliance and legislative issues. The population of the parish is approximately 3,000, which includes nearby Trevone village. In the summer months this figure increases greatly, with day visitors in the region of 500,000 a year. Despite these challenges, we aim to be responsive, accessible and transparent in all that we do.

The Council is made up of 12 Councillors, who represent the wards of Trevone (3) and Padstow (9). Councillors are elected every four years. Any vacancies at other times are either filled via by-elections, or by means of co-option.

The Chair and Deputy Chair are elected by Town Councillors annually at the Annual Town Council meeting. The Chair also undertakes the role of Mayor, representing the Town Council and community at official engagements, with their consort. The Deputy Chair undertaking the Deputy Mayor role as understudy.

The administration of the Town Council is carried out by a Town Clerk, who is appointed by the Council. The Town Clerk is required to carry out all the functions required by law as the Town Council’s Proper Officer and to issue all statutory notifications. The Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) is responsible for managing the finances on behalf of the Council.

The Council employs a total of nine staff at present. The staffing structure and positions as follows:

The Town Council operates a committee system. Working groups are formed as required to deal with issues as appropriate and meet on an ad hoc basis.

The following are Council’s standing committees. These will meet as outlined in the Committee’s Terms of Reference:

• Community and Facilities Committee – The Council has established this Committee to oversee all Council property/facilities, whether owned, leased or managed and its community functions and activities.
• Personnel and Staffing Committee – The Council has established this Committee, whose primary purpose is to ensure the Council complies with the requirements of employment law and follows best practice in providing good working conditions for staff, including health and safety. It oversees the appraisal process and training programmes for both staff and Councillors.
• Finance and General Purposes Committee – The Council established this Committee to oversee and monitor the Council’s finances, ensuring adequate financial controls are in place to utilise and protect both Council finances and its assets. It oversees insurance and lease matters in accordance with legislation, guidance and the Council’s Financial Regulations and Standing Orders and compliance on regulatory matters such as FOI and Data Protection.
• Planning and Highways Committee – The Council established this Committee to undertake the role of the Council as a statutory consultee, reviewing/commenting on planning applications as advised by the principal authority. Responding on any matters relating to heritage, highways, byways, footpaths and transport issues that affect the Parish. Responding to consultations on planning matters and be lead committee for the Parish’s Neighbourhood Development Plan.
• Full Council and Committee meetings are usually held on a Tuesday and are open to the public. Full Council meetings are not usually held in August and December. A list of Council meetings, as well as agendas and Minutes of Council meetings, together with other Council documents, are available here.

Financial Information

The Council’s main source of income is from the Railway and Lawn car parks and commercial rental properties located on the Railway car park. This income has enabled the Council historically not to charge a precept (town or parish cost that is added to Council tax). The setting of a precept is considered by the Council each year during the budget setting process.

The Finance and General Purposes Committee considers an annual Budget for the following 1st April – 31st March in the autumn each year (usually November). The Draft Budget then goes to Full Council for approval. At that time, the Council also considers whether a precept should be set and duly notifies Cornwall Council. It also gives consideration to Councillor allowances. Historically, these have not been paid to serving Councillors apart from travel and subsistence. The Council aims to set a balanced Revenue and Expenditure Budget each year.

As part of the budget setting process, consideration is given to the level of financial support the Council can allocate to support local charities and not-for–profit organisations, through its annual, discretionary grants scheme. The Finance and General Purposes Committee has delegated authority from the Council to allocate grants from any grant budget agreed annually.

The Accounts for the year ending 31st March are normally prepared between April and May each year for Full Council approval.

The Council is required to hold 3-12 months’ revenue expenditure in a General Fund, adopting a risk-based approach to the level of reserves, which are reviewed regularly. Earmarked Reserves are monies set aside for specific projects, usually over £20,000.

The Council owns several assets and maintains a fixed asset register. Capital expenditure prioritises the maintenance and improvement of existing assets, to ensure these are preserved for the short, medium and long term.

An Internal Auditor regularly reviews the effectiveness of the Council’s risk management, control and governance processes. The Internal Audit reports are reviewed by Full Council. The Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR), which summarises the Council’s financial position, is publicised on the Council’s website and audited by an External Auditor.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to be transparent and effective in the management of our services, assets and resources; with a focus towards inclusion and enjoyment for the benefit of our community.

Our Aims & Objectives

To be open, transparent and accountable to our community

• Keeping the Council’s website updated with recent and relevant information.
• Promoting all Council meetings, ensuring to publish meeting agendas as per prescribed timescales and detailing future meeting dates.
• Publishing a 3-year Council Business Plan and introducing an annual report detailing the work undertaken over the preceding year.
• Encourage our community to attend the Council’s Annual meeting.
• Processing any Freedom of Information requests in the timescales prescribed.

To continue to effectively manage the Council’s finances, services and assets

• To provide regular financial reporting to Full Council/Finance and General Purposes Committee.
• To have in place appropriate insurance cover.
• To ensure regular internal audit inspections are undertaken, publishing the full report and addressing any recommendations as required in a timely manner.
• To manage and monitor the Council’s Training and Development Policy, ensuring it provides essential training to support Councillors and staff so as to effectively manage Council affairs.
• To ensure that the Council maintains its Asset Register.
• To manage and maintain Council assets, ensuring regular reporting and oversight of maintenance works and programmes.
• To manage Council services ensuring best value and endeavouring to maintain high service levels.

To continue with and build upon Council community led events

• To budget for and maintain the annual Community Day event, with a view to build upon and improve.
• To strive to look for other initiatives and programmes which have a positive and inclusive effect on our community.
• To budget for and providing assistance to the Local British Legion in the delivery of the Remembrance Parade.

To help local organisations and groups to support all members of our community

• To endeavour to provide financial assistance to help organisations to support the local community via Council’s Community Grant Scheme.
• Assisting local groups and organisations to promote the work they do via Council’s platforms i.e. website/Facebook etc
• To consider any land use requests favourably for community-led events, but mindful of health and safety and the Council’s insurance obligations.
• Continuing to promote the Community Hub and keeping it free of charge to not-for-profit/charitable organisations and services.

To foster inclusion and enjoyment for all of our community

• To continue to attract support and advice services to the Community Hub for the benefit of our whole community.
• To work in partnership to deliver holiday programmes for all children/young people in our community.
• To proactively promote the Council’s Community Grants Scheme, encouraging inclusion from all groups and organisations.
• To ensure Council’s open spaces/play areas are maintained, free to use and open to all for their enjoyment.
• To ensure appropriate budgets are allocated for the maintenance of Council’s open spaces and recreational facilities.

Capital Projects

Detailed below are capital projects identified by Council over the next 3 years, alongside indicative costings.

Budgets will be allocated during the budget setting process of the preceding year (November). For the 2026/27 indicative budgets have been allocated for the identified projects.

Review

This Plan will be reviewed annually to ensure that the Council remains focused on the delivery of its aims and objectives and to assist with the budget setting process. This function will be the responsibility of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, who will take an overview of proposed projects considered by each committee and their further input.

An Annual Report will be prepared at the end of the financial year which will provide update on:

• Progress of Council’s aims and objectives.
• Progress of major capital projects.
• Detail on its achievements and any additional information of note.

Padstow Town Council welcomes feedback on its Business Plan which can be viewed online and hard copies can be obtained by contacting the Council Offices.

Appendix: PTC and Cornwall Council Responsibilities

PTC is the local Council for the Parish of Padstow

• Emptying rubbish dog bins on PTC land (PTC also empty bins at St George’s Well)
• Maintaining and managing open spaces such as Stile Field, Plantation, Wheal Jubilee Parc, Spritty Meadow and Trevone Green
• Maintenance of Victoria Memorial and Stile Field War Memorial
• Maintenance of Church Clock
• Management of Railway and Lawns Car Parks (excluding enforcement which is undertaken by Cornwall Council)
• Provision and management of Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), Skate Park and Children’s Play Area at the Lawns Car Park
• Provision of Rope Walk Allotments
• Maintaining Padstow Churchyard and undertaking the management of cremation plots (on behalf of the Church)
• Provision and management of Padstow Cemetery, including managing burials and ashes interments.
• Provision and maintenance of public toilets (Railway Car Park, Cory and North Quay)
• Provision and maintenance of shelters in Padstow Town Area
• Management agreed with a company to clean, maintain some bus shelters in the Parish (as agreed with CC)
• Maintaining and running the Padstow Town Council Offices, Station House
• Provision and management of Padstow Community Hub, including Partnership Working with Wadebridge Food Bank
• Management of Discretionary Community Grants (via the Finance and General Purposes Committee – subject to budget setting each year) to support local organisations
• Maintaining footpaths, verges and other areas via annual Service Level Agreements with CC across the Parish
• Planning Consultee in response to planning applications within the Parish
• Responding to Local Authority Consultations
• Managing Events provided by the Town Council for its community
• Dealing with Land Use requests on land owned by Padstow Town Council
• Managing via relevant policies, memorial benches and memorial trees on Padstow Town Council land
• Managing assets on Council’s Railway Car Park and Lawns Car Park

Cornwall Council is the Principal Authority for Cornwall

Specific CC Functions of Interest to Padstow Parish

• Camel Trail
• Dogs: Dog Orders on Beaches (Trevone Beach and St George’s Well)
• Grass Verges & Estate Grass Cutting: Various sites across the Parish in CC ownership [Usually PTC undertake this on behalf of CC, as agreed in an annual Service Level Agreement in which CC define the locations and frequency]
• Link Road Car Park (own, operate, enforce & maintain)
• Parking Enforcement: On and Off-Street Parking Enforcement (includes Padstow Town Council Car Parks)
• Street Cleaning: mainly in Padstow town on highways and emptying bins

Overall Functions

• Adult Care and Support
• Benefits
• Buses / Public Transport
• Car Parks
• Children, Schools and Families
• Council Tax and Business Rates
• Elections
• Enforcement – On and Off-Street
• Environmental Health and Licensing
• Environmental Management (including fly tipping on Cornwall Council land)
• Fire and Community Safety
• Help and support for businesses
• Housing / Rough sleeping
• Libraries
• Planning Authority
• Public Rights of Way – footpaths
• Public toilets
• Roads and Highways (including closures, parking, defects)
• Registration Services

NB: This appendix is not an exhaustive list but a broad overview.